05 June 2006

Bush Introduces Amendment to Ban Same-Sex Marriage

This morning on Today—transcript and video here—MSNBC host Joe Scarborough said "everybody knows" President Bush is pandering on gay marriage but the far-right doesn't care why. That reality was demonstrated this afternoon at the president's gay-bashing pep rally where he introduced a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage that has no hope of passing the Senate floor. "Marriage is critical to the health of our society," the president said in the "press conference" that took no questions.

Random highlights:

The very first cutaway: Well, look what we have here. Yet another image that furthers the stereotype that the majority of the black community agrees with the administration on this issue. At left is the Rev. Herbert Lusk, former NFL player and anti-gay pastor of the Philadelphia’s Greater Exodus Baptist Church. According to the Washington Blade, Lusk Lusk is also the recipient of "at least $1 million a year coming from federal, faith-based grants."

Second cutaway, an enthusiastic priest. True, the same-sex marriage debate has energized fundamentalists and the far-right, but, recently more than 500 religious leaders endorsed an open letter on marriage equality.

Next: One unintended consequence of the broadcast was watching the disconnect between the chyrons that explained how the Federal Marriage Amendment would "protect" families and the real news of the day such as ...

... New York City losing even more anti-terrorism funding—12% less from the CDC and 40% less from Homeland Security. Probably a bigger threat to national security than gay marriages in Massachusetts and San Francisco, no?

i mean if they really want to protect marriage then why don't they go about outlawing divorce? sounds insane doesn't it? so does this amendment. seriously though divorce threatens traditional marriage much more than allowing gays marrige rights and protections ever would...besides as a gay american, who pays taxes, how dare the federal goverment award million dollar faith based grants to churches who then turn around oppress and ostracize me! unbelievable...

The obvious politically motivated nature of this speech and the clearly self-serving reasons for many of those in the audience to be supportive of this, makes me wonder how these folks could ever consider themselves on a moral high ground.

One easy way to avoid contacting AIDS is to make the right lifestyle choices. Those who don't unfortunately suffer the consequences. Those struggling for HIV medications would have been better off struggling against making the wrong decisions regarding their lifestyle.

How many gays, specifically young brothas, would get married if same-sex marriage were legal? My guess is not too many. I understand that even if we are not ready for marriage, it doesn't mean we shouldn't have the right to marry. But having the right to marry won't necesarily make brothas relationship-or marriage-focused? Having seen the documentary "Jumping the Broom" at DC's Gay Pride, I understand how we African Americans have had a long tradition of marrying outside the legal recognition of the State. I also noticed that the couples in that film were over 40. I'm lead to believe that the gay marriage debate is mostly a white gay baby-boomers issue. Older white gays are concerned about leave their "life partners" legal rights to their estates when they die. I don't see gay marriage changing the dynamic of sex, love, and relationships among black gay men. It has even less to do with monogamy and committement. With women, maybe, but with brothas, PULEZEE! What is our real stake in this?

But that isn't the issue. Our "real stake" is that the administration is using gay marriage as a smokescreen when losses are mounting in Iraq, unemployment is very high and the president's poll numbers are in the toilet.

Also, with so many brothas dying from HIV, don't you find it insulting that the administration is using this to deflect attention from the epidemic? Just my thoughts.

Ouch Rod! Ok, here are a few ideas. On gay marriage: We do have a critical stake in gay marriage as a human and legal right. We must also mature and build the type of relationships that foster the long-term commitment that leads to marriage. On HIV/AIDS: One solution lies in defeating the loneliness, desperation, nihilism and need for instant gratification that causes us to engage in “McSex,” the kind served up fast, anytime, anywhere, JUST LIKE YOU LIKE IT. Another is learning to discover our loving, sacred sexual selves, and sharing that Spirit with the One who is uniquely and divinely for us. Any more problems you want me to solve?